Red Rust In Mekugi-Ana

[Death-Ace]

Hi guys!

 

Sorry for a redundant question. Just took a look at my ShinShinto blade today and must have overlooked this lil problem. I noticed a bit of red rust (not bright red, however) in the mekugi-Ana. I took a small amount of choking oil and a soft brush and carefully got some of it out without affecting the patina. However, a small amount of darker red rust remains. I am think about a small bone pick or a toothpick to attempt this. But my conscience has me saying it should be kept there but I'm not sure if this is a problem, or just a normal part of aging. Can anyone clean my conscience?

 

Thanks!

Lev

[Ken-Hawaii]

Red rust is active rust, Lev, so using your bone pick to clean it out of the ana is a good idea. I have no idea what "choking oil" is, but do be careful not to get any oil on the nakago itself as you apply a very small amount to the previously rusted area.

 

Ken

 

[Death-Ace]

Ahh, sorry, typing from an iPhone and didn't correct everything! Meant to say choji oil. Will do! Been using a Q-tip right now and been careful to ensure it stays in the Mekugi Ana. Figured as much, active rust (especially on cars) is my biggest pet peeve. As for a pick, I'm going to try the nearby antique stores after some range time. Wish me luck!

 

Thanks again!

Lev

[Stephen]

a shiskabob   skewer bamboo or wood burnishing the inside should remove the red rust.

[Death-Ace]

Thanks again! I managed upon some chopsticks and toothpicks lying around, so have been using those. I seem to have gotten the majority our last night, but these photos show what remains. The brightness make it look worse but this stubborn rust is honestly what's left.

 

Thanks again!

Lev

 

[Stephen]

id not worry any more, just a wee drop on the red rust with toothpick tip then rub with Qtip you should be good to go

[Death-Ace]

id not worry any more, just a wee drop on the red rust with toothpick tip then rub with Qtip you should be good to go

Thanks, Stephen! I really do get antsy when it comes to rust. Once I get back to my "hiding place" tomorrow to clean my guns, I'll definitely do that and hopefully it'll subside. By the way, what was your MOS, may I ask? I'm just a Doc FAP'ed out to Stone Bay at the moment, but have been enjoying my time green side thus far (hopefully it'll still apply if I'm ever transferred to the grunts).

[george trotter]

Just looking at the third pic, I must say that the mekugi ana is a bit unusual. Is it a larger hole "bushed" with a tube of metal to make a smaller diameter hole?. I haven't seen this before.

just wondering, regards,

[Death-Ace]

Hi George. I posted a question about it earlier, but no one ever responded. This was on an auction with six other blades brought back by a Navy LCDR. Three were either tattoos or souvenir knives and the others consisted of a very nice showato, a Nagamaki Naoshi, a Shinto blade, and this.

 

The longer blades except the Nagamaki appeared to have the shirasaya and the showato's Tsukas were drilled by the side of the mekugi to take out the mekugi, and then cut in half from there. The others appeared undamaged while this one I couldn't tell whether it was damaged in the process or the smith or forger decided to punch out the mekugi-Ana for appearances. Regardless, the hole by the mekugi was created by some drill and while I do have the original mekugi Ana, it was cut clean in half by the person to take it out.

 

Here's some photos from the auction and some amateur pics I took. Makes me wonder if someone didn't even think about just pushing out the peg or were just too lazy to try.

 

http://www.militaria.co.za/nmb/topic/15336-katana-from-auction-kurihara-chikuzen-no-kami-nobutaka/?fromsearch=1